In Sermons: showing 1-15 of 17

"nimrod's Folly"

Contributed by John Huyser on Sep 5, 2023

From Sunday School I remember vividly all sorts of lessons on The Tower of Babel. I think almost all of them missed the mark. The issue is far less the Tower of Babel - in fact the tower is a symptom of humanity wanting to do their own thing without God. Jesus came down to reverse that.

It was a moment of folly, a church in Northwest Iowa prefers to forget. Busting at the seams, they broke ground on a new building in the early eighties. Their sanctuary and parking lot would double in size. Featured too were a large kitchen and fellowship hall and many a classroom and extra ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

"too Much Of A Good Thing" Series

Contributed by John Huyser on Jul 18, 2023

Blessed with the Spiritual Gifts of faith knowledge and perseverance, Ephesus' greatest strengths led to their greatest weakness. Indeed, you can have too much of a good thing when love is absent.

SLIDE 1: Winnie the Pooh Sometimes, a children’s story from the past can help set the stage for new topics. A fitting one is Winnie the Pooh. He knew it was lunch time because his empty stomach told him so. He headed off to Rabbit’s house because Rabbit always had honey. “Rabbit – Are you ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

"the Crown Of Life" Series

Contributed by John Huyser on Jul 18, 2023

This city’s unique relationship with Rome made Smyrna a primary target for persecution. Assuring them he knows what they are about to go through, Christ promises them (and us) the crown of life.

To best understand the letter to Smyrna, we need to understand this city’s close relationship to Rome and the Empire. Compared to the others, Smyrna and Rome are the most closely aligned for good reason. Two hundred years before Christ, Rome was at war with Hannibal and the Carthaginians. That ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:7-12

"white Stones And New Names" Series

Contributed by John Huyser on Jul 18, 2023

These are two of the salvific prizes pledged by Christ to believers in Pergamum being true to the Spirit’s call to resist the throne of Satan in their midst. (Please let me know if God used this message)

Title Slide From across the street, my friend, Randy, made a beeline at full sprint for my front door one summer day. We were about ten years old at the time. Breathless by the time he ran up our steps and rang the doorbell, excitedly he told me he had found treasure. In his hand was a white ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

"influence And Impact" Series

Contributed by John Huyser on Jul 18, 2023

Christ's letter to Thyatira forces us to ask questions we normally don't consider. (Please let me know if this sermon indeed was helpful). Video: fruitportcrc.org

INTRODUCTION If Christ’s Pergamum letter was the hardest to understand, Christ’s letter to Thyatira is the hardest to relate to. Not only is their setting so foreign to our understanding, but the letter also forces us to ask questions we normally don’t consider. Slide 1 What outside ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-28

"expectation Sunday"

Contributed by John Huyser on May 24, 2023

Our passage appears to be at first mere filling in the middle - sandwiched between two of God’s greatest actions in the Bible. The majestic ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven and Pentecost Sunday.

The passage we just read is sandwiched between two of God’s greatest actions in the Bible. The majestic ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven and Pentecost Sunday. From there, the book of Acts encompasses nearly 30 years of history -- We see everything from transformational preaching and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:12-26

"reliance In An Age Of Growing Chaos"

Contributed by John Huyser on Apr 24, 2023

Who hasn't pulled into the wrong driveway, knocked on the wrong door, absent-mindedly lifted the handle of the wrong car door or let a ball go astray into another yard? What is triggering all the senseless violence? How do we process this as believers and regain our sense of safety?

Once a month – every 29.5 days according to NASA, we have a full moon where the sun fully illuminates the moon’s visible disk. We observe full moons in the clear nighttime skies without much thought. But long known to those in law enforcement or medicine, full moons can trigger behavioral and ...read more

Ministry, Truth, Gospel, Treasure

Contributed by John Huyser on Feb 8, 2023

Feeling always seeks something in itself; but faith keeps itself occupied with what Jesus is.… When feeling says, In myself, I am sinful; I am dark; I am weak; I am poor; I am sad, let faith say, In Christ, I am holy; I am light; I am strong; I am rich; I am joyful.

It was 1848 when Andrew Murray was ordained into the Dutch Reformed Church. With a remarkable 60-year ministry, he was one of the first Dutch Reformed pastors in South Africa following France’s colonial exit. He pastored four churches, wrote over 250 books, and established what is now today ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

2023 Lessons From A Child's Favorite Miracle Story

Contributed by John Huyser on Jan 31, 2023

It is the healing and the extent to which his friends went to bring him to Jesus that drew me. Oh to have friends like that.

This true Bible story was one of my Sunday School favorites growing up. Maybe it was yours as well ranking right up there with David and Goliath. I was drawn to the story by the healing and the great lengths the friends went to - to bring him to Jesus! Oh to have friends like! Lying on a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:17-26

"common Ground" - The Bible For Christians And Conversations With Unbelievers

Contributed by John Huyser on Jan 18, 2023

Posting or inserting a Bible verse is no longer enough when people speak the same words but operate from different dictionaries.

Slide 1 Last summer, we met Pastor Lora Copley and her husband, Joel. Just a month prior to the Abide Conference in Chicago, they moved to a church in Ames, Iowa near the University. Engaging with new members and neighbors, she took note of a language barrier present. It was particularly true of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Deep Roots

Contributed by John Huyser on Jan 10, 2023

The picture seen around the world - NFL Players and staff on their knees in prayer. What does that say to us and were all those prayers indeed heard and answered? Why is this answer important for believers today?

It was the picture of 2023 seen around the world. Even non-sports fans were impacted as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest following a play on Monday Night. Medical teams rushed in. For 10 agonizing minutes CPR was administered. Finally, a faint heartbeat was detected. The ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:1-13

Another Essential Christmas

Contributed by John Huyser on Jan 3, 2023

Compared to the other Gospels, John's version of the Christmas story is far more cosmic in scope and captures much of the Old Testament anticipation.

Building the day after Thanksgiving, more than any other holiday, the pending arrival of Christmas marks the start of a marathon. By the time December 25, Christmas Day, rolls around, Christmas Day, the finish line is in sight. Except this year, a well-timed blizzard forced us to pause. The ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

"joy's Light Outshines Mere Happiness"

Contributed by John Huyser on Dec 20, 2022

Compared to the other holidays, why is it significant the words Merry and Christmas are tied together?

This morning, seeking joy’s light, I selected a prophecy from the minor prophet Habakkuk. Given his prophecies are unfamiliar, a quick overview is in order. Habakkuk lived in Israel’s Southern Kingdom as the countdown clock to the Babylonian invasion and their exile was hitting 0. The Northern ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:17-19

"the Much Needed Promise Of Peace"

Contributed by John Huyser on Dec 6, 2022

The Light of Peace outshines the stress and fatigue we feel. If only we would slow down, for Christ has overcome the world - and so do we. https://fruitportcrc.org/worship I would love to engage with you - Send me a message

INTRODUCTION At least once a season we get into the car and work our way over to Seaway Drive to head downtown to the arena for a Muskegon Lumberjacks game. Hockey begins with a faceoff – all eyes of the roaring crowd are on the two hockey players facing each other from the opposing teams. Then ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9, John 16:33

Martha Syndrome Series

Contributed by John Huyser on Nov 29, 2022

Entering into the first Sunday of Advent, hope outshines disappointment. At some point of all of have come down with Martha Syndrome. When our caring and compassion tanks are nearing empty - Watch Out!

It was Junior High in the mid 1980’s when the Wilder family opened up Tokens Video Arcade in my home town of Lansing, IL. Today, you can go to Google Play or the Apple Store to download a pinball game, but it is nothing like the original. The pull of the spring tensioned launch button, the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:28-31